Tire pressure sensor identification method and related apparatus and system

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a tire pressure sensor identification method, a related apparatus and system. A tire pressure sensor identification apparatus in the present invention includes a storage module configured to store identity information of a tire pressure sensor, a communications module configured to communicate with an electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle, a processing module and a radio frequency transmission module configured to output identity information. The tire pressure sensor identification apparatus may output the stored identity information to a corresponding vehicle, so that the vehicle can still identify the tire pressure sensor even if the tire pressure sensor is not in an activated state. It is convenient for a user to perform a uniform identification operation after uniformly collecting the identity information, thereby improving identification efficiency of the tire pressure sensor. A tire pressure sensor identification system and a corresponding tire pressure sensor identification method adopting the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus also have a same technical effect.

RELATED APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

The present application claims is a continuation in part of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/514,178, filed on Jul. 17, 2019, which claimspriority to PCT Application No. PCT/CN2018/073102 filed on Jan. 17,2018, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No.201710036080.X, filed with the Chinese Patent Office on Jan. 17, 2017,and entitled “TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR IDENTIFICATION METHOD AND RELATEDAPPARATUS AND SYSTEM”, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of vehicle technologies, andin particular, to a tire pressure sensor identification method and arelated apparatus and system.

Related Art

There are mainly two types of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMSs):an indirect type and a direct type. An indirect-type TPMS obtains arotation speed difference by comparing rotation speeds of tires by usingwheel speed sensors of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) of a vehicle,to monitor tire pressure, and is of a post-passive type. A direct-typeTPMS directly measures inflation pressure of tires by using a tirepressure sensor mounted inside each tire and is of a proactiveprevention type. Because accuracy of determining a fault of the formeris poorer than that of the latter, the direct-type TPMS is used incommon.

The direct-type TPMS usually includes tire pressure sensors and anelectronic control unit (ECU). During initiation, it is usually neededto enable the ECU of the direct-type TPMS to store identification codesof all of the tire pressure sensors, to ensure that the ECU can identifythe tire pressure sensor in each tire. In addition, only when a tirepressure sensor is in an activated state, the ECU can identify a radiofrequency signal sent by the tire pressure sensor, and further reads acorresponding identification code.

In an identification process for a tire pressure sensor, an active timeof the tire pressure sensor is limited. Once an active time period ofthe tire pressure sensor ends (that is, to save energy, the tirepressure sensor performs a sleep mode which does not send a radiofrequency signal), and the ECU fails to perform identification beforethe time period ends, the identification process for the tire pressuresensor needs to be restarted. Therefore, to avoid missing the activetime period of the tire pressure sensor, in an existing implementation,an identification operation needs to be individually performed for eachtire, so as to ensure that the ECU identifies each tire pressure sensor.After the entire identification process is completed, a user needs toreciprocate between a position of a tire and a cab many times andperform repeated operations. Especially for a vehicle with two or morewheels, efficiency of an identification operation of a tire pressuresensor adopting the foregoing identification method is low.

SUMMARY

To resolve the foregoing technical problem, the present inventionprovides a tire pressure sensor identification apparatus capable ofstoring identity information of a tire pressure sensor and outputtingthe identity information.

To resolve the foregoing technical problem, the present inventionprovides a tire pressure sensor identification apparatus, including astorage module, a communications module, a processing module, and aradio frequency transmission module, where the storage module, thecommunications module and the radio frequency transmission module arerespectively communicably connected to the processing module;

the storage module is configured to store identity information of a tirepressure sensor;

the communications module is configured to communicate with an ECU of avehicle and to receive response information fed back by the ECU; and

the processing module is configured to parse the response informationreceived by the communications module to determine whether the ECUenables a sensor learning mode, and if yes, control the radio frequencytransmission module to send identity information of a tire pressuresensor corresponding to the vehicle.

Further, the storage module is further configured to store communicationfrequencies of tire pressure sensors of vehicles of different types.

The radio frequency transmission module is configured to send theidentity information of the tire pressure sensor corresponding to thevehicle by simulating a communication frequency of the tire pressuresensor of the vehicle.

Still further, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus furtherincludes an obtaining module, communicably connected to the processingmodule and configured to obtain identity information of a tire pressuresensor, the identity information being stored in the storage moduleafter being processed by the processing module.

Yet further, the obtaining module includes an activation module and aradio frequency receiving module, the activation module being configuredto activate a tire pressure sensor by outputting a low frequency signal,and the radio frequency receiving module being configured to receiveidentity information sent by the activated tire pressure sensor.

As an improvement, the obtaining module includes an input module,configured to receive the identity information of the tire pressuresensor input by a user.

As an improvement, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatusfurther includes a display module, communicably connected to theprocessing module and configured to display the obtained identityinformation of the tire pressure sensor and a working status.

To resolve the foregoing problems, the present invention furtherprovides a tire pressure sensor identification system, including a tirepressure sensor, an ECU and the tire pressure sensor identificationapparatus according to any one of the foregoing, the tire pressuresensor identification apparatus being communicably connected to the ECUand the tire pressure sensor.

To resolve the foregoing problems, the present invention furtherprovides a tire pressure sensor identification method, including thefollowing steps:

receiving response information fed back by an ECU after communicationconnection to the ECU of a vehicle is established;

parsing the received response information to determine whether the ECUenables a sensor learning mode, and if yes, obtaining identityinformation of a tire pressure sensor corresponding to the vehicle fromstored identity information of tire pressure sensors; and

sending the identity information of the tire pressure sensorcorresponding to the vehicle to the ECU.

Further, before the step of receiving response information fed back byan ECU after communication connection to the ECU of a vehicle isestablished, the method further includes the following steps:

activating a tire pressure sensor by outputting a low frequency signal;and

receiving identity information sent by the activated tire pressuresensor and storing the identity information.

Still further, before the step of receiving response information fedback by an ECU after communication connection to the ECU of a vehicle isestablished, the method further includes the following step:

receiving identity information of a tire pressure sensor input by a userand storing the identity information.

Moreover, the tire pressure sensor identification method furtherincludes the following step:

pre-storing communication frequencies of tire pressure sensors ofvehicles of different types, where

the step of sending the identity information of the tire pressure sensorcorresponding to the vehicle to the ECU includes:

sending the identity information of the tire pressure sensorcorresponding to the vehicle to the ECU by simulating a communicationfrequency of the tire pressure sensor of the vehicle.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the followingbeneficial effects: The storage unit is disposed inside the tirepressure sensor identification apparatus and stores the identityinformation of the tire pressure sensor after receiving the identityinformation. In addition, the tire pressure sensor identificationapparatus is provided with the radio frequency transmitting unit, sothat the apparatus can simulate a radio signal sent by a correspondingtire pressure sensor. In this way, it is convenient for the ECU touniformly identify each tire pressure sensor on the vehicle, therebypreventing a user from reciprocating many times and from performingcomplex operations of inflating or deflating tires, simplifying anoperation procedure in which the ECU identifies the tire pressuresensor, and improving identification operation efficiency and userexperience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a basic functional framework of a tirepressure sensor identification apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a functional framework of a firstembodiment of a tire pressure sensor identification apparatus accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a functional framework of a secondembodiment of a tire pressure sensor identification apparatus accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a framework of a tire pressure sensoridentification system according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a basic procedure of a tire pressuresensor identification method according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a complete procedure of a tire pressuresensor identification method according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another complete procedure of a tirepressure sensor identification method according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the other complete procedure of a tirepressure sensor identification method according to the presentinvention.

Description of reference signs: 1: tire pressure sensor identificationapparatus; 2: tire pressure sensor; 3: electronic control unit; 10:storage module; 20: communications module; 30: processing module; 40:radio frequency transmission module; 50: obtaining module; 51:activation module; 52: radio frequency receiving module; and 53: inputmodule.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Typical implementations embodying features and advantages of the presentinvention will be described in detail in the following description. Itshould be understood that, the present invention can have variouschanges in different implementations, and the changes do not depart fromthe scope of the present invention. The description and drawings of thepresent invention are essentially used for describing, instead oflimiting, the present invention.

First, the working principle of tire pressure monitoring andidentification steps of a tire pressure sensor in the prior art aredescribed in detail. Generally, a TPMS (a direct-type TPMS) usuallylearns a pressure value of each tire by using a tire pressure sensordisposed in each tire and receiving a radio signal (a radio frequencysignal) sent back by the tire pressure sensor. Before monitoring tirepressure of tires of a vehicle, an ECU (usually, a single-chipmicrocomputer or a computer with a radio communication function) in theTPMS needs to record an identification code (identification ID) of atire pressure sensor in each tire and a corresponding relationshipbetween tires and tire pressure sensors. This recording process is aprocess in which the ECU identifies the tire pressure sensor. Afteridentification is completed, the identification code and thecorresponding relationship information are stored in the ECU. Whenreceiving a radio signal including the identification code, the ECU alsoreads tire pressure information in the radio signal. That is, the ECUobtains the tire pressure information of the corresponding tire andintuitively displays the tire pressure information to a driver.

Usually, the tire pressure sensor is disposed in the tire. The tirepressure sensor cannot be connected to the ECU by using a cable and cancommunicate with the ECU only by using a radio signal (usually, a radiofrequency signal). Because a built-in battery of the tire pressuresensor cannot be charged, the tire pressure sensor is usually in a sleepmode to save electric energy. The tire pressure sensor sends a radiosignal (a radio frequency signal) carrying identity information (anidentification code) and tire pressure information only when the tirepressure sensor is activated by a specific activation signal (a lowfrequency signal which consumes little electricity but has a shorttransmission distance), a tire leaks (tire pressure changes), or a tiremoves. In addition, because integral design is usually adopted to reducea size, after the battery of the tire pressure sensor runs out, the tirepressure sensor needs to be replaced entirely. The ECU needs tore-identify a new tire pressure sensor each time the tire pressuresensor is replaced.

The following further describes embodiments of the present disclosure indetail with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides atire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 1, thetire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1 includes a storagemodule 10, a communications module 20, a processing module 30 and aradio frequency transmission module 40. The storage module 10, thecommunications module 20 and the radio frequency transmission module 40are respectively communicably connected to the processing module 30.

The storage module 10 is configured to store identity information of atire pressure sensor 2. The storage module 10 can be implemented by anykind of storage medium, such as a non-transitory storage. The storagemodule 10 can be controlled by the processing module 30.

The communications module 20 is configured to communicate with an ECU 3of a vehicle and to receive response information fed back by the ECU 3.The communications module 20 can be implemented in a wired or a wirelessway to communicate with the ECU 3. The ECU 3 may be disposed in avehicle, combined with the tire pressure sensors to form a TPMS. Thecommunications module 20 may connect with the interface of the vehicleto communicate with the ECU 3. The connection between the communicationsmodule 20 and the interface may be in a wired or wireless way.

The processing module 30 is configured to parse the response informationreceived by the communications module 20 to determine whether the ECU 3enables a sensor learning mode, and if yes, control the radio frequencytransmission module 40 to send identity information of a tire pressuresensor 2 corresponding to the vehicle. The processing module isimplemented by any kind of processor, such as a microprocessor or acentral processing unit (CPU). The processing module 30 can receive asignal from the communications module 20, the processing module 30 mayanalyze the signal by running software or hardware to determine whetherthe ECU 3 enables a sensor learning mode. The processing module 20 canalso send instructions to the communications module 20 to enable ordisable the work status of the communications module 20. If theprocessing module 30 determines that the ECU is in a sensor learningmode, the processing module 20 fetches the stored information of tires,such as identity information, corresponding relationship between tiresand tire pressure sensors, from the storage module 10, and sends thestored information to the radio frequency transmission module 40, theradio frequency transmission module 40 transforms the information toadapt for a transmission mode, and transmits the information to the ECU3, such that the information originally sent by the tire pressure sensormay be simulated by the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1,no matter whether the actual tire pressure sensor is active or in sleepmode. In this case, the ECU 3 may learn tire information from the tirepressure sensor identification apparatus 1, the user operation duringthe identification process in the art may be simplified.

Specifically, the communications module 20 may be communicably connectedto the ECU 3 of the vehicle in a wireless or a wired manner. After theconnection, the communications module 20 may initiate a sensor learningrequest to the vehicle and receive response information fed back by theECU 3 of the vehicle. The response information is used for indicatingwhether the vehicle has successfully enabled the sensor learning modeand may include, but not limited to, at least one of related informationof the vehicle such as a model, a manufacturer, and a license platenumber of the vehicle. After the ECU 3 enables the learning mode, thetire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1 sends correspondingidentity information in the stored identity information to the ECU 3,uniformly by simulating a manner in which the tire pressure sensor 2sends a radio signal when the tire pressure sensor is activated. In thisway, when it is not convenient for an operator to activate the tirepressure sensor 2, or when the tire pressure sensor 2 is in an activetime period while inconvenient for the ECU 3 to enable the learningmode, by means of signal simulation of the tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus 1 in the present invention, no matter whetherthe tire pressure sensor 2 is activated, the ECU 3 can record theidentity information of the tire pressure sensor 2, and thus anidentification operation of the TPMS may be facilitated. In thisembodiment, the processing module 30 is a control center of the tirepressure sensor identification apparatus 1. The processing module 30 maybe a micro controller unit (MCU), configured to control variousoperations of the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1.

In this embodiment, the identity information of the tire pressure sensor2 may be pre-written into the storage module 10 before the tire pressuresensor identification apparatus 1 being launched on the market, or maybe automatically obtained by the tire pressure sensor identificationapparatus 1 from other devices such as tire pressure sensor or from userinput, and stored in the storage module 10. The obtaining manner of theidentity information would not be limited in this embodiment of thepresent invention. The storage module 10 may store identity informationof one or more tire pressure sensors 2 in one vehicle, or may storeidentity information of different kinds of tire pressure sensors ofdifferent vehicles.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be noted thatthe identity information of the tire pressure sensor 2 is used foruniquely identifying the tire pressure sensor 2. Different tire pressuresensors 2 have different identity information. The identity informationmainly includes an identification code of the tire pressure sensor 2.For example, the identification code is a unique physical address of thetire pressure sensor 2, so as to distinguish the tire pressure sensor 2from other tire pressure sensors located in different tires.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the identity informationof the tire pressure sensor 2 includes, but not limited to, at least oneof information such as the identification code, a model, a manufacturer,a service date, and battery capacity information, of the tire pressuresensor 2.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the communications module20 may further be configured to implement external communication of thetire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1 such as informationexchange with the ECU 3, or information exchange with an in-vehicleautomatic diagnosis system of the vehicle. A communication manner of thecommunications module 20 may be a wired or a wireless connection mannerfor communication.

In the embodiments, the storage module 10 is further configured to storecommunication frequencies of tire pressure sensors 2 of different typesof vehicles, so that the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1is compatible with vehicles of different types. Specifically, the tirepressure sensor 2 adopts a communication frequency corresponding to avehicle type, i.e., the tire pressure sensors in different vehicles mayhave different communication frequencies. The communication frequenciesof the tire pressure sensors 2 of vehicles of different types are storedin the storage module 10. Also, the corresponding relationships ofcommunication frequencies and vehicle types can be stored in the storagemodule 10. For example, a communication frequency of a tire pressuresensor 2 corresponding to a vehicle type 1 is f1, a communicationfrequency of the tire pressure sensor 2 corresponding to a vehicle type2 is f2, and the like. Therefore, the tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus 1 of the present invention is compatible withvehicles (tire pressure sensors) of a plurality of different types.Usually, the tire pressure sensors 2 in a same vehicle use a samecommunication frequency. The communication frequencies of the tirepressure sensors 2 on vehicles of a same type are the same, and thecommunication frequencies of the tire pressure sensors 2 on vehicles ofdifferent types are different. The communication frequency of the tirepressure sensor 2 is usually a radio frequency. A radio frequency signalhas a strong anti-interference capability and a long propagationdistance, by the radio frequency signal the tire pressure sensor 2 sendspressure information of a tire in real time to the ECU 3 in a vehiclecabin.

Specifically, the radio frequency transmission module 40 is configuredto send the identity information of a tire pressure sensor 2 in thevehicle to the ECU 3 by simulating the communication frequency of thetire pressure sensor 2 of the vehicle.

In implementations, the processing module 30 sends a request to thevehicle to request vehicle information first, analyzes the responseinformation fed back by the vehicle to obtain vehicle information suchas a model of the vehicle, then obtains a communication frequency andidentity information of a tire pressure sensor corresponding to themodel of the vehicle from the storage module 10, and controls the radiofrequency transmission module 40 to send identity information of thetire pressure sensor by simulating the communication frequency of thetire pressure sensor. The radio frequency transmission module 40 sendsidentity information by using the communication frequency and isconfigured to simulate the tire pressure sensor 2 when the ECU 3identifies the tire pressure sensor 2, thereby facilitatingidentification by the ECU 3. By using the foregoing solution, the tirepressure sensor identification apparatus 1 in the present disclosure mayreplace tire pressure sensor 2 to send the identity information to theECU 3 for identification when the tire pressure sensor 2 is notactivated.

In some embodiments, the radio frequency transmission module 40 may sendidentity information of the tire pressure sensor 2 by trying differentcommunication frequency at each time, until the ECU 3 receives theidentity information through a specific communication frequency. In thiscase, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus may not need toknow communication frequency corresponding to the ECU 3.

In some embodiments, the radio frequency transmission module 40 may sendthe identity information of the tire pressure sensor 2 stored in thestorage module 10 to the ECU 3 by using a communications cable, tocomplete identification of the tire pressure sensor 2 performed by theECU 3.

In some embodiments, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1may transmit identity information from a tire pressure sensor to an ECU,wherein the tire pressure sensor and the ECU belong to a same TPMS. Thetire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1 may obtain and storeidentity information of a tire pressure sensor at first, when detectingthe ECU in the learning mode, it sends the stored identity informationto the ECU, to complete the ECU learning process. Furthermore, in oneway, before sending the stored identity information to the ECU, the tirepressure sensor identification apparatus 1 can obtain the mode of avehicle in which the TPMS locates, and obtain a communication frequencycorresponding to the vehicle mode, and send the identity information viathe communication frequency; in another way, the tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus 1 can obtain the communication frequency fromthe tire pressure sensor when obtaining the identity information. Thetire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1 can active the tirepressure sensor by sending a low frequency signal to obtain identityinformation.

In some embodiments, different from the method mentioned above, the tirepressure sensor identification apparatus 1 may obtain the identityinformation by user input, in this case, the tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus does not need to active the tire pressuresensor.

Optionally, the radio frequency transmission module 40 may transmit theidentity information of only one tire pressure sensor 2 on the vehicleat one time. Specifically, only one tire pressure sensor 2 is identifiedin one learning process. If a plurality of tire pressure sensors 2 onthe vehicle needs to be identified, the learning mode of the vehicleneeds to be enabled the plurality of times. Alternatively, identityinformation of a plurality of or all tire pressure sensors 2 on thevehicle is transmitted at one time. Specifically, identification on theplurality of or all tire pressure sensors 2 on the vehicle can becompleted in one learning process.

In the embodiments, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1further includes an obtaining module 50, communicably connected to theprocessing module 30 and configured to obtain identity information of atire pressure sensor 2, the identity information being stored in thestorage module 10 after being processed by the processing module 30. Theobtaining module 50 may be configured in the radio frequencytransmission module 40, to communicate with a tire pressure sensor toobtain identity information of the tire pressure sensor. In this case,the obtaining module 50 may be a radio frequency receiver, or otherimplementations that can receive information from a tire pressuresensor. In practice, the processing module 30 controls the radiofrequency transmission module 40 to transmit a signal to a tire pressuresensor, so as to activate the tire pressure sensor to send its identityinformation by a radio frequency signal; the obtaining module 50receives the identity information of the tire pressure sensor andtransmits the identity information to the processing module 30, so thatthe processing module 30 stores the identity information to the storagemodule 10. This procedure may be implemented before the tire pressuresensor identification apparatus 1 communicates with the ECU, to enablesthe ECU to perform the learning mode, or this procedure may beimplemented after the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1detects the ECU in the learning mode. Alternatively, the obtainingmodule 50 may be configured independently from the radio frequencytransmission module 40. The obtaining module 50 may include both a radiofrequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver, or a integrateapparatus having both transmitting and receiving functions, so as tocommunicate with a tire pressure sensor as an independent module. Theprocessing module 30 may obtain identity information by controlling theobtaining module 50 directly.

Identity information sent by a to-be-identified tire pressure sensor 2in the vehicle is uniformly obtained or collected, thereby avoiding acomplex procedure in which an operation needs to be performed on the ECU3 each time a tire pressure sensor 2 is identified. In addition, it isalso convenient for the ECU 3 to identify all tire pressure sensors 2 atone time.

As shown in FIG. 2, in a first embodiment, the obtaining module 50includes an activation module 51 and a radio frequency receiving module52, the activation module 51 being configured to activate a tirepressure sensor 2 by outputting a low frequency signal, and the radiofrequency receiving module 52 being configured to receive identityinformation sent by the activated tire pressure sensor 2.

The activation module 51 and the radio frequency receiving module 52 arerespectively communicably connected to the processing module 30.Specifically, the processing module 30 controls the activation module 51to activate the tire pressure sensor 2 by outputting the low frequencysignal, so that the tire pressure sensor 2 sends out the identityinformation. In addition, the tire pressure sensor 2 further sendsinflation pressure information (such as a pressure value and atemperature value of a tire) or the like information of the tire inwhich the tire pressure sensor 2 is located currently along with theidentity information. Because a battery of the tire pressure sensor 2cannot be replaced, when the inflation pressure of the tire is notchanged or no activation signal is received, the tire pressure sensor 2is in a sleep mode to reduce battery consumption. Therefore, when thetire pressure sensor 2 needs to be identified, an existingimplementation of activating the tire pressure sensor 2 is changing theinflation pressure of the tire by inflation or deflation, so that thetire pressure sensor 2 turns into an activated state because of a changeof the inflation pressure and sends out a radio signal (including theidentity information, inflation pressure information of the tire, andthe like), usually a radio frequency signal. However, operations of theactivation manner of inflating or deflating a tire are complex. In theembodiments of the present disclosure, the activation module 51configured to send a low frequency signal and disposed in the obtainingmodule 50 may be adoptable, so that the tire pressure sensor 2 in thesleep mode can be activated by the low frequency signal. Therefore, itis more convenient to activate the tire pressure sensor 2 and thecomplex operations of inflating or deflating a tire can be abandoned.

In addition, the radio frequency receiving module 52 adopts a radiofrequency signal receiver to receive a radio frequency signal sent bythe tire pressure sensor 2, while the tire pressure sensor 2 sends outthe radio frequency signal when it receives the low frequency signal orwhen it is activated when the inflation pressure of the tire changes.The radio frequency receiving module 52 sends the received radiofrequency signal to the processing module 30 for processing.Subsequently, the received radio frequency signal is sent to the storagemodule 10 for storage. In addition to the identity information of thetire pressure sensor 2, the radio frequency signal may further includethe inflation pressure information measured by the tire pressure sensor2 or the like. By using the foregoing manner, identity information ofone or more to-be-identified tire pressure sensors 2 may be stored inthe storage module 10, so that the radio frequency transmission module40 simulates sending the identity information of the tire pressuresensors 2 when an ECU 3 of a vehicle enables a sensor learning mode, sothat a learning function is performed by the vehicle to identify thetire pressure sensor 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, in a second embodiment, the obtaining module 50 mayinclude an input module 53, configured to receive identity informationof the tire pressure sensor 2 input by a user.

The input module 53 is communicably connected to the processing module30. The input module 53 receives an identification code (the identityinformation) of the tire pressure sensor 2 initiatively input by theuser. The corresponding relationship between identification code andcommunication frequencies of different types of tire pressure sensorsmay be stored in the storage module 10. By pre-storing the correspondingrelationship, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1 cansearch out a communication frequency corresponding to the identificationcode input by the user without activating the tire pressure sensor 2,and send the identity information to an ECU 3 by the correspondingcommunication frequency. Therefore, when the ECU 3 enables the learningmode while inconvenient to activate the tire pressure sensor 2, it isalso possible for the radio frequency transmission module 40 to simulatea corresponding radio frequency signal, so that the identity informationof the tire pressure sensor 2 can be transferred to the ECU 3 in realtime.

In implementations, the input module 53 is a common text input device ora code input device (the code includes, but is not limited to, abarcode, a two-dimensional barcode or the like). It is convenient forthe user to initiatively input the identification code of the tirepressure sensor 2, for example, a barcode, a two-dimensional barcode ora corresponding numeral and/or a character code that facilitiesinitiative input. The input module 53 may alternatively be a keyboard, ahandwriting screen, or a combination of the keyboard and the handwritingscreen, or may be an input apparatus easily receiving identificationinformation input by an intermediate device or an auxiliary device, forexample, a camera, a barcode/two-dimensional barcode scanning apparatus,or a point-to-point information transferring apparatus.

In an embodiment, the first embodiment and the second embodiment may beimplemented in combination, so that the tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus 1 may obtain identity information either froman activated tire pressure sensor 2 or from a user input.

In an embodiment, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1further includes a display module (not shown), communicably connected tothe processing module 30 and configured to display the obtained identityinformation of the tire pressure sensor and/or a working status of thetire pressure sensor. The working status may include, but not limitedto, at least one of a pressure value and a temperature value detected bythe tire pressure sensor 2, a remaining electricity quantity and thelike of the tire pressure sensor 2. The display module can make the userdirectly understand an operation status currently and directly observethe obtained identity information. Therefore, use of the tire pressuresensor 2 may be more convenient and humanized. In addition, the userviews related information of the tire pressure sensor 2 by using thedisplay module and can correspondingly modify information of the tirepressure sensor 2. For example, the user modifies the identificationcode of the tire pressure sensor 2 and stores the modified informationafter the information confirmation.

Referring to FIG. 4, an embodiment of the present disclosure furtherprovides a tire pressure sensor identification system. As shown in FIG.4, the tire pressure sensor identification system may include a tirepressure sensor 2, an ECU 3 and the tire pressure sensor identificationapparatus 1 described in the foregoing embodiments, the tire pressuresensor identification apparatus 1 may be communicably connected to theECU 3 or the tire pressure sensor 2. The tire pressure sensor 2 may bedisposed in a tire of a vehicle, and the ECU 3 may be disposed in acabin of the vehicle. The tire pressure sensor identification apparatus1 may be a portable device, it may be disposed at any location near oron the vehicle, it communicates the ECU 3 or the tire pressure sensor 2wirelessly; or the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1 maybe an apparatus on the vehicle, it is fixedly connected to the vehicleor is detachably connected to the vehicle.

In implementation, the communications module 20 of the tire pressuresensor identification apparatus 1 is communicably connected to the ECU3. The activation module 51 and the radio frequency receiving module 52in the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1 are respectivelycommunicably connected to the tire pressure sensor 2. The tire pressuresensor identification apparatus 1 uniformly collects and stores identityinformation of the tire pressure sensor 2 in each tire of the vehicle.When the ECU 3 needs to identify the tire pressure sensor 2, i.e. theECU 3 turns into the sensor learning mode, such as in a situation that aTPMS is enabled for a first time or a tire pressure sensor 2 is replacedfor a dead battery or other reasons, the tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus 1 may simulate a corresponding tire pressuresensor 2 to send a radio frequency signal to the ECU 3. It avoids alimit that the tire pressure sensor 2 needs to be activated duringidentification, also avoids a limit that a user needs to repeatedly moveto active tire pressure sensors 2 and ECU 3. In this way, anidentification operation of an identification system for identifying thetire pressure sensor 2 is quick and efficient, and a user operation isalso facilitated. For composition modules and a specific function of thetire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1, refer to partial of orall content described in the foregoing embodiments, which is not furtherdescribed herein again.

Referring to FIG. 5, an embodiment of the present invention furtherprovides a tire pressure sensor identification method. The tire pressuresensor identification method is applied to the tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus 1 in the foregoing embodiments. As shown inFIG. 5, the method includes the following steps.

510: Receiving response information fed back by an ECU 3 aftercommunication connection to the ECU 3 of a vehicle is established.

520: Parsing the received response information to determine whether theECU 3 enables a sensor learning mode, and if yes, obtaining identityinformation of a tire pressure sensor 2 corresponding to the vehiclefrom stored identity information of tire pressure sensors.

530: Sending the identity information of the tire pressure sensor 2corresponding to the vehicle to the ECU 3.

In an embodiment, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1may be communicably connected to the ECU 3 of the vehicle in a wirelessor wired manner. After the connection, the tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus 1 initiates a sensor learning request to thevehicle and receives the response information fed back by the ECU 3 ofthe vehicle. The response information is used for indicating whether thevehicle has successfully enabled the sensor learning mode and may alsoinclude related information, such as a model, a manufacturer and alicense plate number, of the vehicle. Substantially, the tire pressuresensor identification apparatus 1 parses the response information todetermine whether the vehicle enables the sensor learning mode, and ifyes, the identity information of the tire pressure sensor 2corresponding to the vehicle may be obtained from the identityinformation of the tire pressure sensors pre-stored in the tire pressuresensor identification apparatus 1. The identity information is sent tothe ECU 3 of the vehicle, so that the ECU 3 of the vehicle completes theidentification operation, i.e. the ECU identifies the tire pressuresensors 2 of the vehicle through the sent identity information, so thatthe ECU may recognize by which tire pressure sensor received informationsent.

In an embodiment, the identity information of the tire pressure sensor 2includes an identification code of the tire pressure sensor 2, which isused for uniquely identifying the tire pressure sensor 2. Different tirepressure sensors 2 have different identity information. It can beunderstood that, the pre-stored identity information of the tirepressure sensor 2 may be written into a storage module 10 by a developerduring development of the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus1, or may be obtained by the tire pressure sensor identificationapparatus 1 externally and stored in the storage module 10. This is notlimited in this embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the identity information further includes, but isnot limited to, at least one of specific data such as a model, amanufacturer, a service date and battery capacity information.

In an embodiment, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1may establish a relatively stable connection to the ECU 3 disposedinside the vehicle, so that the ECU 3 does not need to perform anactivation operation on the tire pressure sensors 2 one by one whenidentifying the tire pressure sensors 2, thereby simplifying anidentification procedure.

In addition, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1 iseffectively prevented from unilaterally sending information for a longtime and causing waste of electric energy, so as to prolong a standbytime of the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1, especiallywhen the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1 adopts animplementation manner of a handheld device.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, before performing step 510 ofreceiving response information fed back by an ECU 3 after communicationconnection to the ECU 3 of a vehicle is established, the tire pressuresensor identification method may further include the following steps:

200: Activating a tire pressure sensor 2 by outputting a low frequencysignal.

300: Receiving identity information sent by the activated tire pressuresensor 2 and storing the identity information.

The foregoing solution is a solution in which the identity informationof the tire pressure sensor 2 is obtained in an activation manner. In anactivation process, a radio frequency signal sent by the tire pressuresensor 2 is received and the identity information included in the radiofrequency signal are obtained.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, before performing step 510 ofreceiving response information fed back by an ECU 3 after communicationconnection to the ECU 3 of a vehicle is established, the tire pressuresensor identification method may further include the following step:

400: Receiving identity information of a tire pressure sensor 2 input bya user and store the identity information.

In this solution, a manner of receiving the identity information inputby the user is used to identify the tire pressure sensor 2 uniquelycorresponding to the identity information. In addition, communicationfrequencies of tire pressure sensors 2 of vehicles of different typesare preset to serve as support; in another way, the communicationfrequencies may also input by the user. The input identity informationcan match the preset communication frequencies, so that the ECU 3 mayimplement communication with the tire pressure sensor 2 by using thematched communication frequency and identity information. Specifically,when the ECU 3 enters a learning mode, the tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus 1 sends the identity information to the ECU 3by using the matched communication frequency.

In an embodiment, before performing step 510 of receiving responseinformation fed back by an ECU 3 after communication connection to theECU 3 of a vehicle is established, the tire pressure sensoridentification method may further include the following step:

100: Pre-storing communication frequencies of tire pressure sensors 2 ofvehicles of different types.

Step 530 of sending the identity information of the tire pressure sensor2 corresponding to the vehicle to the ECU 3 may specifically include thefollowing step:

531: Sending the identity information of the tire pressure sensor 2corresponding to the vehicle to the ECU 3 by simulating a communicationfrequency of the tire pressure sensor of the vehicle.

Specifically, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1 mayobtain, based on a model of the vehicle included in the responseinformation, a communication frequency of a tire pressure sensor 2corresponding to the model of the vehicle from pre-stored communicationfrequencies. The tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1simulates the communication frequency of the tire pressure sensor 2, sothat the ECU 3 can also receive a same radio frequency signal as thetire pressure sensor 2 before or after the tire pressure sensor 2 isactivated. This step enables an identification process of the ECU 3without simultaneously activating the tire pressure sensor 2, therebyfacilitating operation performed by a user on the ECU 3, avoidingreciprocation of the user between a tire and a cab and improvingidentification efficiency of a tire pressure sensor identificationsystem.

In conclusion, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus 1 inthe present disclosure may store the identity information of the tirepressure sensor 2 in the storage module 10. In addition, the radiofrequency transmission module 40 simulates the tire pressure sensor 2sending the corresponding identity information. This avoids a limit thatthe sensor needs to be in an activated state when the ECU 3 identifiesthe tire pressure sensor 2. By using the tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus 1 in the present disclosure, the ECU 3 mayidentify the tire pressure sensor 2 at any time. The ECU 3 does not needto be constrained to perform identification in a time period when thetire pressure sensor 2 is activated. An identification operation of theECU 3 is simplified and usage by the user is facilitated. The tirepressure sensor identification system and the tire pressure sensoridentification method adopting the tire pressure sensor identificationapparatus 1 in present disclosure also have the foregoing advantages.

According to FIG. 7, an embodiment of the present invention relates to amanner to write an identification of a tire pressure sensor through OBD(on-Board Diagnostics) bus. Through this manner, the ECU can identifythe identification of every tire pressure sensor. Data such as pressureand temperature are sent to the ECU through a tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus.

Detailed steps are described below:

Step 701: The tire pressure sensor identification apparatus sends acommand of reading identification information of a tire pressure sensor.(e.g. ID of the tire pressure sensor)

Step 702: The tire pressure sensor sends data such as an ID of the tirepressure sensor, tire pressure and tire temperature.

Step 703: The tire pressure sensor identification apparatus communicateswith the ECU of the vehicle through an OBD bus manner.

Step 704: The ECU replies through Acknowledge Character (ACK) that an IDof the tire pressure sensor has been written.

Step 705: The tire pressure sensor identification apparatus sends datasuch as the ID of the tire pressure sensor, a tire pressure and a tiretemperature that are received from the tire pressure sensor before tothe ECU.

The tire pressure sensor identification apparatus may simulate a radiosignal sent by a corresponding tire pressure sensor. In this way, it isconvenient for the ECU to uniformly identify each tire pressure sensoron the vehicle, thereby preventing a user from reciprocating many timesand from performing complex operations of inflating or deflating tires,simplifying an operation procedure in which the ECU identifies the tirepressure sensor. and improving identification operation efficiency anduser experience.

According to FIG. 8, the embodiment of the present invention disclosesidentification of each identifier of every tire pressure sensor for theECU through static learning manner. Also, the data such as pressure andtemperature of the tire pressure sensor are sent to the ECU through tirepressure sensor identification apparatus.

Detailed steps are described below:

Step 801: The tire pressure sensor identification apparatus sends acommand of reading identification information of a tire pressure sensor.(e.g. ID of the tire pressure sensor)

Step 802: The tire pressure sensor sends data such as an ID of the tirepressure sensor, tire pressure and tire temperature.

Step 803: The ECU enters a learning mode through a static learningprocess by the tire pressure sensor identification apparatus and theECU. For example, the tire pressure sensor identification apparatusprompts the user to press various buttons in a certain sequence toenable the ECU to enter the learning mode.

Step 804: The tire pressure sensor identification apparatus sends datasuch as the ID of the tire pressure sensor, a tire pressure and a tiretemperature that are received from the tire pressure sensor before tothe ECU.

The tire pressure sensor identification apparatus may simulate a radiosignal sent by a corresponding tire pressure sensor. In this way, it isconvenient for the ECU to uniformly identify each tire pressure sensoron the vehicle, thereby preventing a user from reciprocating many timesand from performing complex operations of inflating or deflating tires,simplifying an operation procedure in which the ECU identifies the tirepressure sensor. and improving identification operation efficiency anduser experience.

The descriptions above are only specific implementations of the presentinvention, but are not intended to limit the protection scope of thepresent invention. Any variation or replacement readily figured out by aperson skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in thepresent invention shall fall within the protection scope of the presentinvention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present inventionshall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tire pressure sensor identification apparatus,comprising a storage module, a communications module, a processingmodule and a radio frequency transmission module, wherein the storagemodule, the communications module and the radio frequency transmissionmodule are respectively communicably connected to the processing module;the storage module is configured to store identity information of a tirepressure sensor; the communications module is configured to communicatewith an electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle and to receiveresponse information fed back by the ECU; and the processing module isconfigured to parse the response information received by thecommunications module to determine whether the ECU enables a sensorlearning mode, and if yes, control the radio frequency transmissionmodule to send identity information of a tire pressure sensorcorresponding to the vehicle.
 2. The tire pressure sensor identificationapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage module is furtherconfigured to store communication frequencies of tire pressure sensorsof different types of vehicles; and the radio frequency transmissionmodule is configured to send the identity information of the tirepressure sensor to the vehicle by simulating a communication frequencyof the tire pressure sensor of the vehicle.
 3. The tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising anobtaining module, communicably connected to the processing module andconfigured to obtain identity information of a tire pressure sensor, theidentity information being stored in the storage module after beingprocessed by the processing module.
 4. The tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the obtainingmodule comprises an activation module and a radio frequency receivingmodule, the activation module being configured to activate a tirepressure sensor by outputting a low frequency signal, and the radiofrequency receiving module being configured to receive identityinformation sent by the activated tire pressure sensor.
 5. The tirepressure sensor identification apparatus according to claim 3, whereinthe obtaining module comprises an input module, configured to receivethe identity information of the tire pressure sensor input by a user. 6.The tire pressure sensor identification apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a display module, communicably connected to theprocessing module and configured to display the obtained identityinformation and/or a working status of the tire pressure sensor.
 7. Thetire pressure sensor identification apparatus according to claim 2,further comprising an obtaining module, communicably connected to theprocessing module and configured to obtain identity information of atire pressure sensor, the identity information being stored in thestorage module after being processed by the processing module.
 8. Thetire pressure sensor identification apparatus according to claim 2,further comprising a display module, communicably connected to theprocessing module and configured to display the obtained identityinformation and/or a working status of the tire pressure sensor.
 9. Thetire pressure sensor identification apparatus according to claim 3,further comprising a display module, communicably connected to theprocessing module and configured to display the obtained identityinformation and/or a working status of the tire pressure sensor.
 10. Thetire pressure sensor identification apparatus according to claim 4,further comprising a display module, communicably connected to theprocessing module and configured to display the obtained identityinformation and/or a working status of the tire pressure sensor.
 11. Thetire pressure sensor identification apparatus according to claim 5,further comprising a display module, communicably connected to theprocessing module and configured to display the obtained identityinformation and/or a working status of the tire pressure sensor.
 12. Atire pressure sensor identification system, comprising a tire pressuresensor, an electronic control unit (ECU) and the tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus according to claim 1, the tire pressure sensoridentification apparatus being communicably connected to the ECU and thetire pressure sensor.
 13. A tire pressure sensor identification method,comprising the following steps: receiving response information fed backby an electronic control unit (ECU) after establishing a communicationconnection to the ECU of a vehicle; parsing the received responseinformation to determine whether the ECU enables a sensor learning mode,and if yes, obtaining identity information of a tire pressure sensor ofthe vehicle from stored identity information of tire pressure sensors;and sending the identity information of the tire pressure sensorcorresponding to the vehicle to the ECU.
 14. The tire pressure sensoridentification method according to claim 13, wherein before the step ofreceiving response information fed back by an electronic control unit(ECU) after communication connection to the ECU of a vehicle isestablished, the method further comprises the following steps:activating a tire pressure sensor by outputting a low frequency signal;and receiving identity information sent by the activated tire pressuresensor and storing the identity information.
 15. The tire pressuresensor identification method according to claim 13, wherein before thestep of receiving response information fed back by an electronic controlunit (ECU) after communication connection to the ECU of a vehicle isestablished, the method further comprises the following step: receivingidentity information of a tire pressure sensor input by a user andstoring the identity information.
 16. The tire pressure sensoridentification method according to claim 13, further comprising thefollowing step: pre-storing communication frequencies of tire pressuresensors of different types of vehicles, wherein the step of sending theidentity information of the tire pressure sensor corresponding to thevehicle to the ECU comprises: sending the identity information of thetire pressure sensor corresponding to the vehicle to the ECU bysimulating a communication frequency of the tire pressure sensor of thevehicle.
 17. The tire pressure sensor identification method according toclaim 14, further comprising the following step: pre-storingcommunication frequencies of tire pressure sensors of different types ofvehicles, wherein the step of sending the identity information of thetire pressure sensor corresponding to the vehicle to the ECU comprises:sending the identity information of the tire pressure sensorcorresponding to the vehicle to the ECU by simulating a communicationfrequency of the tire pressure sensor of the vehicle.
 18. The tirepressure sensor identification method according to claim 15, furthercomprising the following step: pre-storing communication frequencies oftire pressure sensors of different types of vehicles, wherein the stepof sending the identity information of the tire pressure sensorcorresponding to the vehicle to the ECU comprises: sending the identityinformation of the tire pressure sensor corresponding to the vehicle tothe ECU by simulating a communication frequency of the tire pressuresensor of the vehicle.
 19. A tire pressure sensor identification method,comprising the following steps: sending identification informationreceived from a tire pressure sensor corresponding to a vehicle throughon-board diagnostics bus after establishing a communication connectionto the ECU of the vehicle; receiving a response information sent by theECU after the ECU receives the identification information; sending theidentification information, pressure and temperature measured by thetire pressure sensor to the ECU through radio frequency according to theresponse information.
 20. A tire pressure sensor identificationapparatus, comprising a storage module, a communications module, aprocessing module, and a radio frequency transmission module, whereinthe storage module, the communications module and the radio frequencytransmission module are respectively communicably connected to theprocessing module; the storage module is configured to storeidentification information, pressure and temperature of a tire measuredby the tire pressure sensor; the communication module is configured tosend identification information to the ECU of a vehicle, and to receivea response information indicating the identification information hasbeen written into the ECU fed back by the ECU; the processing module isconfigured to control the communication module to send theidentification information of the tire pressure sensor to the ECU, andto control the radio frequency transmission module to send theidentification information, pressure and temperature measured by thetire pressure sensor to the ECU; the radio frequency transmission moduleis configured to send the identification information, pressure andtemperature measured by the tire pressure sensor to the ECU afterreceiving the response information indicating the identificationinformation has been written into the ECU fed back by the ECU.
 21. Atire pressure sensor identification method, comprising the followingsteps: displaying an operation needed by a user on a display screen forthe user's reference during operation by the user after establishing acommunication connection to the ECU of the vehicle; enabling the ECU toenter a learning mode according to a use's operation after the userexecutes the operation according to the displayed operation; sending theacquired the identification information, pressure and temperaturemeasured by the tire pressure sensor to the ECU after the ECU enters thelearning mode.
 22. A tire pressure sensor identification apparatus,comprising a storage module, an interfacing module, a processing module,and a radio frequency transmission module, wherein the storage module,the interfacing module and the radio frequency transmission module arerespectively communicably connected to the processing module; thestorage module is configured to store identification information,pressure and temperature of a tire measured by the tire pressure sensor;the interfacing module is configured to interface with a user, displayan operation needed by the user for the user's reference duringoperation; the processing module is configured to enable the ECU toenter a learning mode according to the use's operation after the userexecutes the operation according to the displayed operation; the radiofrequency transmission module is configured to acquire theidentification information of a tire pressure sensor corresponding to avehicle, and the pressure and the temperature of the tire, and to sendthe acquired the identification information, pressure and temperature tothe ECU after the ECU enters the learning mode.